FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WITH PICTURES
JUNE 8 2024
Groundbreaking ceremony of the Chapula Polytechnic in Lufwanyama, funded by Kagem Mining Limited
Lufwanyama, Zambia – Today, the Minister of Technology and Science, Hon. Felix Mutati, MP, led the groundbreaking ceremony signalling the start of construction work for Chapula Polytechnic in Lufwanyama – Zambia’s first official polytechnic. The ceremony demonstrates Kagem Mining Limited (Kagem)’s commitment to fulfilment of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it signed with the Government in September 2023, in which the mine committed to the construction of the centre at an estimated cost of ZMW 52.5 million (USD 2.5 million).
The centre will aim to provide local people from Lufwanyama and other areas surrounding the Kagem mine with training in a range of skills that aim to help them find employment, including at the mine, a key goal of the government’s Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP).
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Technology and Science Hon. Felix Mutati, MP relayed that government’s goal is to work with Kagem to deliver at Chapula the first Polytechnic in the Republic of Zambia: “Kagem has responded to the challenge by agreeing to invest USD 2.5m to construct and equip the polytechnic. We want to deliver a world class polytechnic from a leading gemstone mining company. We want the people of Lufwanyama to be proud again that they can contribute substantively to the delivery of skills not only here in Lufwanyama but also beyond Lufwanyama.”
Once completed, the centre will be under the administration of the Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA), and will offer industry-standard curriculum-based courses to enable locals to acquire the necessary skills needed to improve their employability. With a curriculum being designed to align with industry demands, the Chapula Polytechnic will offer a diverse array of courses, with carpentry, plumbing, heavy earth moving machinery, computing and information technology (IT) skills training proposed.
“We are abandoning the current model, where we concentrate in one sector only. Our new model will be integrating agriculture, for example, with mining to work hand in hand to have an integrated process and an integrated development agenda,” said Honourable Mutati.
Kagem chairman Dr Sixtus Mulenga said “For Kagem, it is our honour and privilege to be an active member of the community here in Lufwanyama, and a long-term supporter of its growth and development. It is our hope and indeed our expectation that the Chapula Polytechnic will serve to enhance the skills base in the district as well as give rise to new opportunities for trade and industry within our communities.”
The Chapula Polytechnic demonstrates Kagem’s longstanding commitment to supporting regional and national economic development through community initiatives and programmes that aim to create successful and independent communities in its area of operation.
“With the Chapula Polytechnic, we hope to inspire youths in particular, encouraging them to expand their outlook on life and to grasp the opportunities for growth that are around them. The future of Zambia is in this generation’s hands and this training centre will play a part in upskilling them for prosperity,” said CV Suresh, Kagem’s Managing Director.
The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Technology and Science, Hon. Felix Mutati, MP, District Councillors; Council Secretary-Lufwanyama District; Council Chairperson-Lufwanyama; Lufwanyama District Commissioner, Kalulushi District Commisioner, Area Member of Parliament, His Royal Highness Chief Lumpuma of the Lamba Lima people, Kagem management and employees; industry peers; as well as members of the Chapula community and surrounding areas.
The Chapula Polytechnic construction project is due to be completed by the end of 2025.
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CONTACT
Enquiries
Gillian Langmead
Langmead & Baker Ltd
Tel: +260 979 060705
info@langmead.com
Head office
Helena Choudhury
Head of PR and Communications
Tel: +44 (0)207 518 3420 / +44 (0)7493 237598
helena.choudhury@gemfields.com
Albertina Namburete
PR Manager
Tel: +44 (0)783 325 7387
Albertina.namburete@gemfields.com
Kagem responsible sourcing highlights
- Kagem is committed to ensuring that the community continues to benefit positively from its operations through various sustainability programmes focused on alleviating poverty and aligned with government policies, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Vision 2030.
- Up to December 2022, Kagem had spent USD 3 million on community projects, and has committed further.
- Kagem constructed, expanded and rehabilitated 5 schools providing education to more than 2,000 students.
- Kagem committed USD 345,000 on top of previous provisions of USD 345,000 in university scholarships in geology and mining engineering.
- Kagem and Gemfields Foundation built and equipped two computer labs at Kapila Primary School and Chapula Secondary School.
- Kagem constructed 1 fully equipped health centre, the Nkana Health Centre, serving a population of 10,000.
- Kagem improved Chief Nkana and Chief Lumpuma’s palaces and rehabilitated 18.7km road connecting Chief Nkana and Chief Lumpuma’s chiefdoms.
- Kagem provides support to 7 farming associations benefiting more than 100 farmers and their families.
- Kagem supports the Zambian Carnivore Programme (ZCP) having committed a total of USD 400,000 since 2018 to 2027 and provided a one-off donation of USD 70,000 to the North Luangwa Conservation Programme (NLCP).
- Kagem signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Zambia to fund the construction of the Chapula Vocational Training Centre in Lufwanyama.
- Kagem employs more than 1,000 people, of which, 94% are Zambian nationals.
About Kagem Mining
Kagem Mining Ltd, based in Lufwanyama, is believed to be the world’s single largest producing emerald mine. Kagem is 75% owned by Gemfields, in a model partnership with the Zambian government.
Kagem aims to emulate the values of Gemfields and operate in a way that contributes positively to the national economy, while taking a leading role in modernising the coloured gemstone sector and building sustainable livelihoods for the communities around the mine. Kagem believes that coloured gemstones should be mined and marketed by championing three key values – transparency, legitimacy and integrity.
Gemfields is a world-leading responsible miner and marketer of coloured gemstones. In addition to Kagem, Gemfields is the operator and 75% owner of Montepuez Ruby Mining in Mozambique (at one of the most significant recently discovered ruby deposits in the world), as well as bulk sampling licences in Ethiopia, amongst others.
Gemfields has developed a proprietary grading system and a pioneering auction and trading platform to provide a consistent supply of coloured gemstones to the global jewellery market.
Fabergé – an iconic name with an exceptional heritage – is a member of the Gemfields Group. The beauty of Fabergé’s designs and craftsmanship, helps to raise consumer awareness of responsibly mined coloured gemstones.
As well as supplying a significant share of the world’s rough rubies and emeralds, Gemfields initiates activations to build desire for coloured gemstones: for example, collaborations with international jewellery brands and other creative partners. Often surprising, unexpected and unique, these collaborations are chosen to promote consumer awareness and increase the appeal of coloured gemstones, raising their profile, and, in turn, providing greater benefit to their place of origin in Africa.
Gemfields: Gemfields.com | Investors | Foundation | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube
Fabergé: Fabergé.com | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube
Kagem Mining: LinkedIn
Montepuez Ruby Mining: LinkedIn